Our Story
Joint Mechanix, the Rotater and Shoulder Rehab
Scott Kay & Chris Melton - Owners, Joint Mechanix, LLC
Joint Mechanix, LLC was founded in August of 2007 by long-time friends Scott Kay and Chris Melton. We created this company to manufacture and market the Rotater, a shoulder rehab and stretching device that Scott invented so that he could return to racing. We never imagined the Rotater would touch people all over the world!
We’re not Health Professionals!
That surprises some people – but they’re even more surprised to learn that we’re really industrial mechanics. That’s right, we fix machines – BIG machines. But, I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Here’s our story from the beginning.
Chris Melton & Scot Kay - Industrial Mechanics
The SuperMoto Race, Ocala, Florida – Sept. 2005
Scott Kay has been a motorcycle racer for thirty years – Motocross, road racing, flat track, SuperMoto – you name it, he’s done it. Anyway, Scott was warming up for the SuperMoto race and was having problems with a nasty series of jumps or moguls or whatever you call them (I’m not a motorcycle racer). Being the thinker he is, Scott stopped to watch the professional racers and hopefully learn something. The pros were having no difficulty at all. In fact, they were flying over the same obstacle. (I guess that’s why they’re professionals.) After watching the pros for a few minutes, Scott decided to try their technique ( at full speed ) and took off on his last warm-up lap before the race. Little did he know that it would be his last lap of any kind for quite a while.
Scott Kay racing flat track at Crooked Creek
I’m sure the scene must have looked very different in his “mind’s eye” than what really happened – but that’s often the case for everyone. Isn’t it?
Rapid compression is followed by violent decompression
When Scott’s motorcycle hit the first bump (at full speed), his rear tire and shock compressed completely – immediately followed by a rapid and violent decompression. The result was a sudden, radical catapulting effect that launched Scott high above the handlebars and into a full handstand. It was like something you’d expect to see on the X-Games where some guy jumps his bike real high and then scoots to all kinds of positions in the air before getting back on the motorcycle for a beautiful landing. The only problem – Scott had not practiced the “beautiful landing” part.
High altitude, high speed, vertical face-plant
Basically, Scott did a high altitude, high speed, vertical face-plant directly into the motorcycle track, with his shoulder taking most of the impact. As you may have guessed – Scott’s shoulder was badly damaged and required surgery. This would be his third shoulder surgery ( not to mention all the other repairs ), so he knew he would be in for a long recovery before shoulder rehab could start.
Shoulder surgery is successful
Shoulder surgery is successful
Scott’s surgery was successful and he began the long road to recovery. As Scott’s shoulder rehabilitation progressed, he started to get antsy. Racing season was approaching and he knew he wasn’t ready. He began to question his physical therapists about how long his shoulder rehab was taking, but they assured him that he was doing “just fine”. Scott’s reply was, “…but I can’t even reach behnd my back”.
“That’s your external and internal rotation”
Scott’s physical therapists told him that his struggle to reach behind his back was due to his lack of internal rotation. Because of the amount of time that his shoulder had been immobile, both the internal and external rotation of his shoulder had been compromised resulting in limited range of motion. This is very common after shoulder surgery.
What can I do to increase my shoulder range of motion?
Being a proactive patient, Scott asked about the possibility of purchasing a shoulder rehab device he could use at home to supplement his physical therapy. He wanted to increase his shoulder flexibility and range of motion. His PTs gave him some rudimentary exercises to do at home, but told him there wasn’t a shoulder rehab tool available that would duplicate the internal and external rotation stretches they performed.
That conversation changed our lives, shoulder rehabilitation and sports medicine – forever. That’s a big statement, but it’s true.
Scott Kay invents the Rotater
External Rotation of the Shoulder - neutral position
Scott went home and then out to the shop behind his house (where he builds and maintains his motorcycles). He began experimenting – convinced that he could build a device that would replicate the stretches and stretching sensations he felt during his physical therapy sessions. Several prototypes later, he’d created a shoulder device that would work – and nothing like it existed!
After using his “Rotater” (that’s what he named it) for a few days, Scott became concerned that he might be harming his newly repaired shoulder. About the same time, his PTs started asking Scott about his recent gains in flexibility and range of motion. So, Scott told them about his Rotater. The PTs wanted to see this shoulder device and a demonstration. They were impressed and told Scott he had to get a patent right away. ( On a side note – due to incorrect information and bad advice, we almost didn’t get the patent filed in time – we filed it with only one day to spare ).
I have a question about my shoulder
“Am I damaging my shoulder?”
Scott was more concerned with whether he was damaging his newly repaired shoulder, but his physical therapist assured him that his prototype was a great shoulder tool and no damage was being done. On a side note: There have been several times when we’ve been approached at an athletic show or medical conference by people who are amazed by the simplicity and effectiveness of the Rotater. Their comments usually sound something like this, “…the Rotater is so simple. I’ve been stretching shoulders for 20 years – I can’t believe that I didn’t think of it. It’s an excellent device.”
Joint Solutions, LLC?
Anyway, Scott and three medical professionals ( his therapists – a physical therapist, a doctor of chiropractic and an athletic trainer ) formed a company – Joint Solutions, LLC, to manufacture and market the Rotater as a shoulder rehab device. That should be the end of the story, but it’s not ( did you notice there’s no mention of how I became involved? ). The problem was that starting a business requires a great deal of work and Scott was busy:
- he found an industrial designer who helped him refine his prototype
- he located a local manufacturing facility and began asking questions about having an injection mold built
- he was chasing leads and learning about the manufacturing process
In June of 2006, Joint Solutions, LLC debuted the Rotater at the National Athletic Trainers Association annual conference in Atlanta. Actually, the first Rotater prototype based on the current industrial design was what was demoed. It was created by a 3-D printer and was the only Rotater in existence at that time. The response? FANTASTIC! Professional athletic trainers wanted to buy the Rotater on the spot. The Problem: there was only one Rotater in existence.
Problem – Costs rise!
At this point Joint Solutions was faced with the cost of having a very expensive mold built. The mold was ordered – and finally arrived in November or December of 2006. Test production began immediately. Plastic recipes were tested and retested. The first “ready-for-use” production run came off the press in January or February of 2007.
Cost of doing business rises
Other costs that you don’t think about began to become a factor:
- marketing materials – brochures, dvds, packaging, shipping costs, shipping containers, etc.
- product liability insurance had to be purchased – expensive
- traveling expenses – you have to get your product in front of the buyers or at the very least, the people who influence the buyers
- tradeshow and related costs – $1500.00 – $4500.00 per show plus lodging, food, travel expenses, etc.
- production costs – plastic is expensive and the market is volatile, setup requires time ( you have to pay for that )
- website development, purchase domain names, purchase website hosting plan
Other projects
In the meantime, Scott and I had created a business model for a website dedicated to craftsmen. Neither of us had any idea how to go about creating a website, ( now that we’re working on our current rendition of the Rotater.com, that seems like forever ago ) but that didn’t stop us. We started reading books and experimenting with software.
Eventually, along with three more friends, we started a company to develop our “big idea”. As we were working on our website idea, it became obvious that Scott was frustrated with the lack of progress of his “Rotater” company. What really bothered him though was our little group of mechanics and electricians was working like crazy, making great progress and loving every minute of it. All the while the Rotater was stagnating.
Business is helping your friends
Do you want some help?
One night I asked Scott about his “Rotater” project. He wasn’t happy and didn’t know what to do. I’d been interested in the Rotater since trying his prototype. I had shoulder surgery in 1995 to repair a badly separated shoulder from a skiing collision, so I could see the benefits it provided for a shoulder rehab patient. I asked Scott if he would like my help.
He didn’t answer right away, but a couple of days later, he wanted to know if I was serious. I told him that I was.
Scott approached his three partners and asked them if I could “buy into” their company. They weren’t interested. So, Scott and I discussed the pros and cons, devised a plan and then we made an offer to buy Joint Solutions. They took the cash and a couple of days later Joint Mechanix, LLC was formed.
What’s happened in the meantime?
Since establishing Joint Mechanix, LLC:
- we created a website and a blog ( Shoulder Rehab & Performance ) to promote and sell the Rotater
- we’ve travelled to Denver (24 hour drive), Las Vegas (twice), Daytona, Orlando (three times), Nashville, Boston, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Palm Beach, Washington D.C., San Antonio, Birmingham and Philadelphia to promote the Rotater at various physical therapy conventions, athletic conferences and golf events
- we’ve shipped Rotaters to 48 49 all 50states and 19 23 30 countries
- we have 4 domestic distributors, five foreign distributors ( United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Korea, Australia, Canada) and negotiating with other countries.
- More than 10 NFL teams have ordered the Rotater – 2 have ordered more than once
- the Rotater has been included in the curriculum of at least one college course for physical therapy
- the Rotater has been featured on television a couple of times
- we’ve been featured in several newspapers – one front page spread!
- we met Donald Trump during the pairings party held in his Miralago home for the 2008 ADT LPGA Championship
- we SOLD OUT of Rotaters during the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers conference
- Scott Kay received his patent for the Rotater in May of 2010
Thankfully, we have great wives and children who love, support and believe in us – sometimes more than we do ourselves.
A few interesting notes about Scott Kay:
- he is a part-time technical college instructor in the fields of industrial maintenance, welding and machinist technology
- he has invented several other interesting devices that I’m sure you’ll hear about in the future
- he is an entrepreneur
Chris Melton is:
- an industrial maintenance technician, avid woodworker and blogger (www.soupornuts.com)
- a two-time graduate of Auburn University with B.S. degrees in Finance and Animal Science
- a pseudo-computer geek ( I spend way too much time on the computer and need to justify it )
- a life-long entrepreneur
- the head evangelist for the Rotater
